Rex Tillerson, the outgoing secretary of state, gave his last official State Department press briefing room statement Tuesday, announcing he would relinquish his duties at midnight and formally depart on March 31.

The outgoing secretary of state had a few stern words on Russia as well, making oblique reference to the emerging picture of the means by which the country sought to influence American politics.

“I’ll now return to private life as a private citizen, as a proud American, proud of the opportunity I’ve had to serve my country.

God bless the American people.

God bless America,” the former Exxon-Mobil CEO concluded, exiting stage right from the briefing room and from the top diplomatic position in the free world.